ABSTRACT

By the end of the second week in May, Argentine commanders had a reasonably accurate grasp of British strategy-to attack and destroy targets of opportunity (as on 14 May at Pebble Island) and to infiltrate reconnaissance units (not that any had been positively detected), while preparing for an assault in a lightly defended area under protection of diversionary attacks elsewhere. They lacked, however, any detailed tactical knowledge of British dispositions, and had been rattled by the operations to cut off re-supply of West Falkland. They were aware of the imminent arrival of the amphibious force into the South Atlantic but poor reconnaissance undermined their hopes of attacking it before it reached the Hermes Group.